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EDWARDS. LENOX AND EDWARD SPAULDING, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

Y Leiters Parent No. 64,114, camz April 23, 1867.

i Potrero-Diseno.

To A Lr. wHoM Ir MAY ooNcEnN:

Be it known that we, E.v S. Lenox and EDWARD SPAULDING, of the city,county, and State of N ew York,

'have invented a new and 'improved Potato-Digger; and we do' herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use thesaine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a plan or topview,partly in section, of our improved potato-digger.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, takenon theline 1r x, iig. 1. Figure 3 is an. end elevation of the saine. 5 Similarletters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a potato-digger, the scoop of4 which isprovided with flaring wings,lso that a broad, wide track is rnade, whichfacilitates the separation of the potatoes from the dirt. The sides orwings extend beyond the front edge of the scoop, and the cutting edge ofthelatter is V-shaped, or concave, with a projecting extension in thecentre, so that the scoop begins to cut at its sides, whereby the.bursting of the hill is l avoided. To the rear edge of said scoop ishinged a grate or riddle, formedof sheet-metal bars, to which a,vibrating motion is impartedby suitable gearing, in Vsuch a manner'that the dirt and potatoes raised by the action of the scoop are readilyseparated by the action of the grate, and the potatoes can then beeasily 4collected.

v A. represents 'a frame, consisting of two" longitudinal bars a, whichare connected in front by\ a.I brace, I, and in rear by the axleB ofther-ear supporting-wheels C, as is clearly shown in the drawings. Infront the frame is supported by ahroadffaced caster-wheel, D, whichpresses' the ground vdown in front of the scoop E,

`ne that the saine is easilytaken up. The scoop -E is suspended from theaxle B by the rods c, and its front or cutting edge is made concave orVshaped,'as is seen more particularly in tig. 1. In the centre of thecutting 'y edge is a small projecting portion, d, as shown. To the rearend of this scoop is pivoted-a riddle, F, towhich a vibratingmotion -isimparted by suitable' gearing N, or other devices, which giveoscillating mot-ion to a. connecting-rod, e, by which the motion istransferred tothe riddle. The bars of -this vriddle are'marle of sheetmetaljand the edges bent down, as shown in iig. 3, to'iiicrease. thestrength. The centreA bars are made so that theirextremc ends-drag orArest on the ground, and 'form a fulcrum, around which the grate swings,causing the motion of each'gratefbar to decrease from its front endtowards the point. The side-bars ofthe grate are bent up, sothat ,thewhole forms a kind of a trough,`whereby the potatoes are deposited inthe centre oi' the furrow,land can then be easily collected.,V In front,the ends of the bar-s of the grate are connected by a cross-bar,f, whichis slotted, and is guided .bypins or bolts g, which are attached to theunder side of `the scoop 'E. The side wings G G of the scoop, whichare'almost perfectly vertical, project in front of the cutting edge oi'the scoop, as shown in g. 2, soas to cut the ground before it is takenup by the scoop, thus determining the exactlquantity of soil to beraised by the scoop, and also preventing the soill from burstingl orfalling to pieces before beinggelcva'tegl. In order to prevent theunnecessary raising of suchA ground, in whichno. 'potaltoes can becontaineLL-cutters H ha've been arranged in frontof .the wings G,vandare attached to the same by Vmeans of braces m, inclining somewhattowards each other, so s Ato level oil' the4 ridge and to reduce thequaninently while the lever l/may beapplie'd for temporarily adjustingthe 'position of-.the-scpo` tity'of dirtthat is elevated by the scoopfOn the outside of each wing G is arranged a mould-board, I, whichcontiimesthef'operationoi' vthe cutter4 H, and'w'ideus the trackl of themachine, whereby we are enabled .to construct theriddle E of greaterwidth than th e scoop. The easy-"operation of the Whole apparatusi'is'thus insulted.'

The scoopis suspended'in front bytwo bars hh, each of which is pivotedto one of the Vwings andto v:the

' lower cud of a vertical bar, z', which is either notched or'otherwise-made adjustable 4up and down, and which is' held in the sidebars of the frame A, as shown. chain,'k, attached to one ofthe barsInland to the lower end-of a lever, whichA is pivoted to the frameA,'n'1ay be used for vraising theV front or-cutting edge of' the scoopmore or less, asmay be'desired. By lowering the bars t', the frontof thesco op Awil We claim las new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent-"I 1. The potato-digger, consisting of the fram'e, secured: to the axleB, caster-wheel E, with wingsG' G, curved bars l, riddle F, vibrated bysuitable gearing N, cutters H, mould-board I, toothed vertical bar z',chain k, aud-lever l,constructed and operating substantially as hereinshown and described.

flowered perma-` :suspended scoop 2. The scoop` E, when provided with aconcave cutting edge, to prevent the bursting of thc hill, in combi-Vnation {vth the wings' G, as set forth.. Y ,A

3. The'vibratngriddleF, consisting of bent sheet-metal bars, which areso arranged that the ends of the' centre bars'drag on the ground,fandthose of the outerbars 'are elevated above the' ground, substantially asand for the purpose herein shown and described, in combination with themould-boards H aud I, substantially as `herein set forth. v A

4. The mould-boards H and Lv'whcn arranged as described, in combinationwith the Wings G and Bcoop'E,

all made and operating'substgntially asi and for the purpose hereinshown and described..

5. Extending thsfej'bwgs G'byond the bottom of thc scoofi E,substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

EDW. S. LENOX,

EDWD. SPAUvLDING.

Witnesses:

WM. F. MGNAMARA ALEX. F. ROBERTS.

